God's Not Done

By Kay Heitsch

If You're Reading This, God Still Has A Plan. God's Not Done With You. ~ Be Confident Quotes ~

Do you ever wonder why you're still here on earth? I do. Eugena, a friend of mine, gave me a Bible verse when I first became a Christian. It's today's verse.

Today's verse says. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 NLT

Eugena was certain that God, who began a good work in me, would finish it! When I wonder why I'm here, I have to believe it's because God isn't finished with the plan He has for my life.

If You're Reading This, God Still Has A Plan. God's Not Done With You.

185 ~ Christmas Angels

By Kay Heitsch

Sharing another Christmas memory.

Christmas Angels

One of my favorite Christmas memories was living in Dover, Ohio. My friend Ruth Ann, who has gone Home now, and I were in charge of getting "Angels" for the Christmas Eve service.

Several weeks earlier, we were busy calling teenage girls to ask if they would like to be an "Angel" for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Each girl we called was excited to be a part of the service.

The church was beautifully decorated by the altar committee. Jo Schilling, who has also gone Home now, was in charge. Everything looked wonderful.

On the night of the service, the girls gathered in a room, putting on white gowns with halos of gold tinsel on their heads. Each girl was given a long, white, unlit candle to carry.

After they were all dressed and ready, they gathered in the narthex, waiting to walk in.

The night of the service was so touching. Music played softly, and the lights were turned down as each "Angel" walked down the long aisle with their unlit candle.

As they came to the front of the church, our pastor, Rev Jim, stood with the "Christ's Candle," and the girls lit their candles from it.

After lighting their candle, they went to the end of each row and lit the candle of the first person in the row. Then, as that person lit their candle, they would light the candle of the person next to them. After a few minutes, every candle in the church was glowing.

Then, our organist, Linda, began playing "Silent Night," and everyone sang as we raised our candles in the air.

Tears filled my eyes, and I'm sure others experienced the same loving feeling. I had never been to a candlelight service, so this experience was new to me.

I loved the symbolism this ceremony told.

As we go to Christ, we receive His light/love. After we do, we light/touch the people around us, and His light/love continues.

I'll never forget this special Christmas memory. It has stayed with me all these years. I pray we will let His light shine for all the world.

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2

Only Way

By Kay Heitsch

Jesus Is The Only Way To Heaven. ~ Jesus Is The Only Way Quotes

Some people like to say that Jesus is "one way" to get to heaven, but that is not what the Bible says.

Religion will try to make this free gift Jesus has given us into a works program. Sorry, but that won't work either. We can't work our way to Heaven.

Isaiah 64:6 says Our righteous acts are like filthy rags. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Our Bible verse says. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 NIV

There you have it! Jesus is the way. Not one way! No one can come to the Father in Heaven except through Him.

Jesus Is The Only Way To Heaven.

184 ~ Christmas Tradition

By Kay Heitsch

I want to share a Christmas tradition I had as a child.

Back in the 1950s, my Mom's church had a tradition of meeting in December to go out and gather money for the poor.

It's cold and snowy in Michigan, so we would all get bundled up and meet at the church. Whoever was driving would have a tape player in the front seat, with a loudspeaker mounted on top of the car playing Christmas carols.

As we walked from door to door, Christmas music was playing loud and clear. Most people were eager to give us some spare change or maybe a dollar.

As I think back, I'm sure many people knew my Mom and the good work she did for people experiencing poverty in our area.

Mom was the President of the Dorcas Society for the state of Michigan. She rented a few rooms in a building in town where people could bring clothing, etc. She gave out food baskets and helped in other ways, too. Mom was also the Chairman of the Red Cross for the area.

That being said, Mom and I had no problem meeting our goals. The church had a chart with a thermometer showing how much money we had raised. My goal was $25.00.

After going out gathering the money, we would go back to the church and have hot chocolate and cookies. I'm sure you will not be surprised that warming up with hot chocolate and a cookie was something I looked forward to as a child.

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2

Just Do It!

By Kay Heitsch

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. ~ Don't Wait Quotes ~

We do not know what tomorrow will bring. If a person comes to mind to call or send a note, do it! You don't know if that's the last time you will ever be able to talk to them.

Our Bible verse says. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. Ecclesiastes 9:10

We should always do our best at whatever we do. Don't wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow may never come.

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

183 ~ Christmas Blessing

By Kay Heitsch

When I accepted a friend request, I had no idea what a Christmas blessing it would be. When the request came, I didn't recognize the name, but since I knew a couple of people she knew, I accepted.

Later in the day, I received a private message. I was amazed to find out that I had given her a "Have A Great Day- Every Day! Book 25 years ago at a bank where she worked.

I felt overwhelmed, and tears filled my eyes when she told me I had really made a difference in her life, and in her words, "You were actually like an angel to me."

What a Christmas blessing!

To think I had made a difference in her life. And she saw me as an angel to her.

I could see God's timing was perfect, too.

I say this because the day before, an old high school classmate had commented on one of my posts, saying, "When were you ever an angel?" I'd replied, "I never was, as you seem to remember!"

Well, I guess God showed me that I was an angel to this girl.

I never expected to hear from someone after so many years, but I am very thankful for this Christmas Blessing!

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2

Be Known

By Kay Heitsch

True beauty comes from within. ~Inner Beauty Quotes ~

It's essential to try to look your best. But it's more important to be known for your inner beauty.

I've known people who I thought were beautiful because of the inner beauty that radiated out of them.

Our Bible verse says. Be known for the beauty that comes from within. 1 Peter 3:3

What a great way to live. Being known for the beauty that comes from within.

True beauty comes from within.

182 ~ Cookie Delivery

By Kay Heitsch

My Mom came from a family of 14 children. Christmastime wasn't always the best. However, there was a young man who went out of his way to make the day special.

Over the years, my Mom talked about how this guy would come out on Christmas and bring candy to her brothers and sisters. Mom never forgot his kindness.

Because of the kindness shown to her at Christmastime, Mom made it a point to help the less fortunate.

Mom was a great baker, and she did bake cookies, but she wanted a variety to give away.

There was a lady in town who made cookies. Mom would place an order, and when the cookies were ready, we would go over and pick them up.

I well remember the wonderful smell of cookies when she opened the door. After we had the cookies, I'd help Mom divide them up on plates, and we would deliver them.

We lived in Michigan, and some homes we delivered cookies to had dirt floors. It was good for me to see that not everyone lived as I did.

One summer, we went back to Mom's hometown. As I remember, she bought some flowers and candy at a local store.

We then drove to the person's home who had given Mom's family the candy on Christmas so many years before. Mom knocked on a large wooden door.

An elderly, frail man answered. Mom introduced herself and thanked him for the kindness he had shown her family so many years before. Then she handed him the flowers and candy and hugged him.

I'm thankful I had a Mom who taught me to give. I may have been raised as an only child, but I always gave toys, etc., away to children who had less than I did.

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2

Love Always

By Kay Heitsch

Believe the best of everyone. ~ Always Believe The Best Quotes ~

What would happen if we made a choice to believe the best of every person? I'm sure it would save us a lot of stress. We tend to jump to conclusions without knowing the whole story.

Our Bible verse says. Love is ever ready to believe the best of every person. 1 Corinthians 13:7

The Bible tries to help us to live the life Jesus died to give us. So if we believed the best of every person, we would be living a life filled with love.

Love always believes the best of everyone.

181 ~ Life Season

By Kay Heitsch

I don't know if it's just me, but time seems to be flying by. I've actually noticed it moving faster as I get older.

It seems like it was just Spring and I was planting flowers, and now I'm out shoveling snow.

I enjoy the changing seasons and seeing the beauty each season holds. Seasons change, and so do we.

I'm unsure if I'm in life's fall or winter season. I know I'm past spring and summer.

I hope and pray that, whatever life season you're in, you'll take time to embrace it and look for the beauty in each. As I get older, I'm going to try to do the same.

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2

Make A Switch

By Kay Heitsch

Another week of answered prayers and miracles. Thank God in advance! ~ Thank God Before You See Your Answers Quotes ~

We usually thank God after He answers our prayers. How about making a switch and thanking Him before we see our answers? Personally, I like to pray, "Thank You, Lord, for working on this issue. I praise You for working it out for my good."

Our Bible verse says, Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him, and praise His name. Psalm 100:4 NIV

When we thank God and praise His name in advance, we are releasing our faith. We are telling God we trust Him to do what is best.

Another week of answered prayers and miracles. Thank God in advance!

180 ~ Two Sisters

By Kay Heitsch

Over the years, I have met some fascinating people. Two of the most interesting were two elderly sisters who lived in Dover.

I'm not sure how I became acquainted with them, but their way of talking about people inspired me.

It was always a pleasure to visit these two sisters. Just being greeted at the door was a joy. I remember well how happy they were when I came to visit.

I always heard about the people who had been there before me. Each and every person was talked about positively. The conversation would go something like this: "Oh, Kay, so and so was here yesterday. She is just the 'salt of the earth,' isn't she, sister?" The other sister would reply, "Oh yes, she is! Kay, you can't believe how wonderful so and so is."

I never heard these two sisters say a negative word about anyone.

I understood why these two had so much company, even though others complained that no one cared about them. It was their attitude towards people.

I had no doubt that the next person who came to visit would hear that I was the "salt of the earth" and that they were happy I had stopped by.

What an excellent example these two sisters were to me. I'll be forever grateful that God allowed me to know them.

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2

179 ~ Think Back and Remember

By Kay Heitsch

As the years have gone by, I like to remember how God has cared for me in the past. Each time I relive an experience in my mind, I can see God's love and how He has cared for me.

Several years ago, I found myself in a situation I did not expect. My husband had decided to take a job that wouldn't require him to be home every day. I remember praying, "God, I'm trusting You to take care of me."

The first night I would be alone, a friend from another state came for a visit. I was expecting him, but I didn't realize I'd be alone. I could see this as God taking care of me right from the start.

Most days, I felt fine, but one night I felt a little lonely. Out of the blue, I received a message on FB. It was from a guy who had been in the youth group I co-led. He reminded me that I was never alone. I could clearly see that this message was from God. He was reminding me, once again, that He was taking care of me.

We have moved several times over the years. As a result, we've had additional mortgage payments. Our payment was pretty high.

One day, we heard the doorbell ring. Bill went to the door but didn't see anyone there. However, a package was left on the porch. Bill brought it in. We were curious, wondering what it could be.

Inside the package were many forms to fill out to refinance our home. We had not sent for this. Bill decided to fill out the paperwork and send it back, and see what happens.

Lo and behold, everything checked out, and our mortgage payment was significantly reduced.

We all go through uncertain times in our lives. We don't know what the future holds. During these uncertain times, I would like to suggest that you reflect on how the LORD has cared for you in the past.

Our past experiences with God can help us trust Him when we face situations in the present. Always remember that God loves you! Don't worry! Put your trust in Him. He will take care of you.

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2